For decades there was little doubt about the European Union’s success in the balanced acceleration of standards of living among the Member States. Since 2008, this upward convergence has stalled.

The Foundation Forum 2017 will bring together up to 200 experts, policymakers, employer and worker representatives, national governments, thinkers and practitioners in Dublin Castle to hammer out the issues around upward convergence as a common goal of social convergence in living and working conditions in the European Union.

The Foundation Forum 2017 will take place on 14 -15 November 2017 at Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland.

The Foundation Forum is Eurofound’s flagship event, aimed at reaching high-level policymakers in the field of social, employment and work-related policies. It provides a platform for Eurofound to contribute findings of relevance to the debate and further strengthens its role and capacity as a facilitator for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences, in line with the tasks assigned to the Agency in its Founding Regulation.

Speakers confirmed include:

An Taoiseach, the Irish Prime Minister

Ylva Johansson, Swedish Minister for Employment

Branko Milanovic, Lead Economist in the World Bank research group and visiting Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, USA